The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-30
4 SOCIALISTS LIBEL SUIT
Phil Rappaport's Testimony in the Trial
of His Case Against the Sentinel.
lie Tells Of His Relations with Spies. the An
archist. and Makes Speeches That Social
istic Listeners AppIaud-0ther Cases.

| When the suis of Philip Rappaport, editor OF
| the German Tribune. against William j. Craig,
proprietor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, was
called before Squire Feibleman. yesterday after
| noon. the little courtroom was packed until
| there wasn't showroom. Those present were
!, nearly all members of the Socialist Society and
| friends of Mr.. Rappapors While the witnesses
were gathering Mr.. Rappaport requested that
NJ. T. Stokes, the reporter who wrote the al
| legged libelous article, be made co-defendant
| with Mr.. Craig, and the prosecutor drew up a
new affidavit, making him the co-desendant He
was formally placed under arrest but was not re-
CURED to give bond William T. Brown assisted
Deputy Prosecutor Keeling in the prosecution
Of the case, and Messrs Sullivan and Jones ap-
peared for the defendants.
Mr. Rappaport was called as the first witness.
He said he had resided in Indianapolis for thir-
teen years. and during the last six years had
been editor Of the German Tribune He was
present at the meeting held in Turner Hall on
Sunday, Dec. 4 It was q meeting. he said, of
laborng men, Knights of Labor and Socialists.
Its object was to generally discuss labor and So
cial questions. II opened the meeting" said he,
''and after introducing Mrs. Elizabeth Patter
son, spoke myself. What 1 said was directly
the opposite to that attributed to me in the SEN
tinel of the following morning I spoke of the
labor question in general. and recommended the
ballot as the only means by which the wrongs
of the laboring men could be rshted.
On cross-examination the witness was asked If
he did not have to leave Cincinnati on account
of some trouble when he came to Indianapolis.
He said he did not. He had trouble there. he
said. but none that caused him to leave the city
Glow was the Socialists meeting held on
Dec. calledl" was asked.
II really could not say"
What was its objectl'
1.-THE principal object was the discussion of
social questons-how to better the conditions of
laboring men,"
How do you Socialists propose to better the
condition of laboring menf'
sour principles exactly the same those
of the Knights Of Labor. We hold that labor is
not properly rewarded. Our idea Ia to change
the wage system for a cooperative system.
Our party is practically political party, and
we hope to accomplish our ends by the ballot"
What is the distinction between anarchism
and socialism,"
1.-THE difference is this: Anarchists want to
reform the state and government. They want
to abolish all government They believe in IN
dlviduality-that every should govern
himself. The Socialists believe that the gov
eminent should be so thoroughly reformed that
men will get the full benefit of their labor
The Anarchists hope to accomplish their ends
by force; the Socialists by the ballot"
Have you any sympathy with the auarch-
istic doctrinep
s.None whatever; am a bitter enemy to it"
"Were you acquainted with the men executed
in Chicagol'
81 was acquainted with but of them, that
was Spies. l heard some of the others speak,
and was perhaps. introduced to tn en-. =
The witness was next asked how he became
acquainted with Spies. and related that in 1885
his wife, while on visit to Chicago, met the
Anarchist at social gathering and invited him
to come to this city. Two months afterward he
came here and remained several days, the guest
of the family of the witness
WAS he an Anarchist at that timer was
asked.
Yes; he was"
"Did you ever meet him after thatl"
Yes, did. know what you want and
will tell You the entire story. Spies was high
ly educated young man, but youthful
enthusiast / frequently advised him that his
course would lead to ruin, but he would not lis
ten to me- A short time after he went home
from here the last time the Haymarket riot
Cured. During the trial of the men went TO
Chicago, and visited the courtroom Knowing
Mr.. Spies. l sat beside him. On my way to the
court room l met little dower-girl and as |
have never in my life passed of them |
without buying from them, bought button
hole bouquet After had sat down by Mr.. Spies
he either asked for the bouquet, or asked |
him If he would like to have it. at any rate. |
presented it to him"
son your return did you not ask Mr.. Thomp- |
II did not. My enemies in Chicago had sent
here, aud called on Mr.. Holiday. of |
the News, and gave him the correct account of
the matter. as have given it here"
THE night after Parsons and Schwab spoke
here in Mozart hall did you not attend
ception given them in saloon under the halle"
II did not"
Mrs. Elizabeth Patterson, State lecturer for
the Knights of Labor, and editor of the Labor
Signal the next witness. She was present
at the Sunday night socialistic meeting, and de-
liyered an address, and also heard Mr. Kappa
ports speech The report published in the Son
tinel, she said. did not have a semblance of
truth as to what either she or Mr.. Rappaport
said.
ibid Mr.. Rappaport say anything about the
use of FORGET"
''Not word. He spoke Of tho ballot as the
only means of accomplishing the desired end"
Mr.. Rappaport, in giving his testimony, sew
eral times entertained the Justice and his audi
tors with ten minutes speech without break
In his earnestness he would frequently arise
from his seat. and give his remarks more force
by well-studied gestures. On several occasions.
when he grew eloquent in portraying what So
cialists expected to accompish-by the ballot
his admirers in the courtroom evinced their ap.
probation of his remarks by applauding.
The other witnesses examined were Thomas
Gruelle, formerly editor of the Labor Signal,
John Bodenmiller John Meddard, and Allen
Jennings They were all present at tie meet
ing. and agreed that Mr.. RappaDors did not use
any such language as was attributed to him in
the Sentinels report OF the meeting.
The trial will be resumed this morning, at 9
o'clock The plaintiffs have several more wit
1esses to be examined, and their testimony will
De to the effect that no such language was used
1t the meeting. The defendants line of defense
will be, not to show that such language
used, but that the plaintiff is ins reality An
lrchist, and las frequently SO declared himself
n his speeches and writings. The trial will
probably be concluded to-day.
A Counterfeiter's Confession.
Joshua Z. Harln. of Sharpsvile, Ind. arrest
ID on a charge of making counterfeit dollars and
en-dollar gold pieces. given preliminary
rial yesterday, before Commissioner Van